International Labour Organization (ILO) projects global unemployment rate to remain at 4.9% through 2027

Exam-focused facts from the 22 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates global unemployment at 186 million people in 2026.
The ILO warns that 465 million jobs depend on foreign demand through exports of goods and services and related supply chains.
Nearly 300 million workers live in extreme poverty on less than $3 a day.
About 2.1 billion workers are expected to hold informal jobs in 2026 with limited social protection and job security.
Youth unemployment among 15 to 24-year-olds is projected at 12.4% for 2025, with 260 million young people not in education, employment or training.
Women account for only two-fifths of global employment, highlighting entrenched gender inequalities.